Vacuum cleaner



Maj-ch 7, 1933.

Filed April 26, 19 0 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JCZemenziS March 7, 1933. w fi-s1,900,692

VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 26 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inveniar 77Zlaa7raJT CZevzeres Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. CLEMENTS, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GLEMENTS MFG. CO., OF.

PATENT OFFICE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VACUUMCLEANER Application filed April 26,

My invention relates to an improvement in vacuum cleaners andparticularly to an improvement in that type of vacuum cleaner in which amotor and housing therefor are associated with a fan chamber and a fan,there being a suction inlet to said fan chamber and an exhaust outlettherefrom. One object of my invention is the provision of means forsecuring in rotation a plurality of quickly removable suction inletnozzles to said fan chamber, the nozzles being of different form and fordifferent purposes, all being readily removable from and detachable inoperative relation with the fan chamber. Another object is the provisionof a removable nozzle for such asuction cleaner, said nozzle beingadapted to receive a supplemental suction inlet, the suction nozzlestructure, with or without said supplemental inlet, being removable as aunit from the suction cleaner. Another object is the provision of meansfor securing selectively to the suction cleaner, a nozzle having abeating or sweeping brush, or a nozzle without such brush. Anotherobject is the provision of means for adjusting the height of the vacuumcleaner to position a floor engaging nozzle adjacent the floor surface,or at any .desired height above such surface, within a reasonable rangeof adjustment. Other objects will appear from time to time in the courseof the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawlngs, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, with partsin section, illustrating a suction cleaner having secured thereto one ofthe removable nozzle members;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a different form ofnozzle;

Figure 4 is a side elevation with parts" in section showing the samenozzle as in Figure 1 with a different fitting inserted in the nozzleand the nozzle in position to be connected to the fan housing; and

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the nozzle 1980. Serial No. 447,579.

removed with a hose connection fitting in place in the nozzle.-

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1, A generallyindicates any suitable vacuum cleaner member or housing, which mayinclude the motor housing A in which is indicated any suitable motormeans shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines as A The motor is provided witha motor shaft A lying preferably but not necessarily along the centralaxis of the motor housing A The motor housing is herein shown asterminating at one end in the circular flange A, the diameter of whichis shown as somewhat exceeding the normal diameter of the housing AAligned with it is a partition member A through a central aperture inwhich extends the inner end of the motor shaft A Secured in anysuitablemanner to the flange A is the fan housing or fan chamber membergenerally indicated as B. It is shown as generally helical incross-section with an edge B opposed to the flange A Said flange A maybe provided with screws B whereby the motor and fan casings may besecured to each other to form an effective operating unit. B indicates aperipheral and tangential exhaust passage which may terminate as at Bwith any suitable looking flange or member B whereby the exhaustreceiving pervious bag B may be secured thereto. B indicates an axialair inlet, herein indicated as having the bevel edge B adapted toreceive one of the suction nozzle members later described. B is asecuring lug structure which includes a pin having the ends B B isanother locking lug having pivoted thereto the locking lever B with thewedging locking surface B the purpose of which will later appear.

In order to support the fan and motor housing in any desired normalrelation to the floor or surface to be cleaned, I illustrate a rearbracket C formed with a securing extension C which conforms to and maybe screwed or otherwise secured to the end of the motor housing A as bythe screws C Pivoted to the bracket C is any suitable roller or rollersC C C indicate roller abutment lugs mounted upon or formed upon theexterior surface of the fan housing B. Mounted therein is the rotatableshaft or member C upon which are the arms C to which are pivoted thesupporting rollers C C is another arm upon the shaft C the arms C and Cforming together in effect a bell crank lever. C is an additional lugupon the exterior of the fan housing B, which is screwthreaded toreceive the adjusting screw C with its manual control member 0. Theinner end of the member C is reduced as at C to penetrate a portion ofthe arm C whereby, in response to rotation of the member C said arm maybe adjusted to control the angular relation of the arms C. For example aclockwise rotation of the member C may depress the outer ends of thearms C and thus lift the fan housing from the floor. A reverse rotationhas the opposite effect, lowering the fan housing in relation to thefloor.

D indicates any suitable fan within the fan housing B, and mounted uponthe motor shaft A It may include the central hub D the lateral extensionD therefrom, anda plurality of vanes D The result of the rotation of thefan is the expulsion of the exhaust from the passage B and a consequentsuction through the aperture B D indicates a screwthreaded extension ofthe fan and motor shaft'beyond the forward face of the fan hub. It maybe screw-threaded to receive a removable shaft extension generallyindicated as D and provided with a belt engaging portion D properlycurved or arcuate in cross-section, in order to hold a belt thereupon.

In order to permit an employment of the power plant and suction devicethus employed which shall be of maximum flexibility and variability inuse, Iprefer to employ a plurality of separate and individually usablesuction nozzles. Since an important feature of my invention is theselective employment of suction nozzles of different type wish it to beunderstood that although the suction nozzles in Figure 1 and some of theother figures may differ in detail, I am not illustrating alternativeforms of my invention, but rather parts of a single set or unit whichincludes the main power plant and a plurality of selectively employablesuction inlet members.

Referring to the particular member shown in Figure 1, E generallyindicates a suction nozzle structure terminating at its lower edge inthe laterally extended portion E adapted to be opposed to the surface tobe cleaned, and terminating in a lower edge E E are suitable yieldingbuffers to prevent damage to articles of furniture and the like bycontact with the nozzle. The nozzle E is expanded at its upper end intothe generally cylindrical connector member E which may include theforward wall E and a rear wall E. These two walls are apertured inalignment as at E E Extending inwardly beyond the wall E is a generallycylindrical flange E with a bevel or champfered exterior surface Eadapted to engage and conform to the opposed inclined surface B upon theforward wall of the fan chamber B. In order to lock the nozzle in placein relation to the fan housing I provide. the lower lugs E formed with ahook or terminal portion E conforming to and adapted to hook over thepins 13 The upper lug or extension E is adapted to approach the lockinglug B and may be engaged by the wedge surface B of the lever B.

In order to render the nozzle structure E adaptable both for employmentupon a floor or for the cleaning of draperies and the like I provide thesupplemental hose connecting member generally indicated at G. Itincludes an extension of reduced diameter, G adapted to be inserted intothe end of a hose G It is provided with a circumferential flange G, witha packing G", and a cylindrical extension Gr adapted to penetrate theaperture E and snugly engage the edge of the aperture E, as shown inFigure 5. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the hose inletG in position, for example the wedging member Gr opposed tocorresponding wedging members G upon the nozzle structure. It will beseen from Figure 5 that when the hose inlet is in position the normalair inlet through the floor nozzle E is entirely out off. It will befurther observed, from Figure 5 that the nozzle structure may be removedas a unit from the fan housing, regardless of whether or not the hoseconnection is in position. When the hose connection is not employed theclosure H may be used, which includes the flange H corresponding to theflange G of the hose inlet, the packing H the generally cylindricalportion H adapted to penetrate the aperture E and any suitable securingmeans, for example the locking members H. It will be noted that the sizeof the parts is such that even though the removable shaft extension D"is in position, the nozzle structure may be freely applied and removedand the hose inlet may also be freely inserted or removed.

When it is desired to employ a different type of nozzle, for examplewhen it is desired to employ a nozzle having a beating brush or sweepingbrush or a floor polishing or treating member of any kind, such a nozzlemay readily be applied to the fan housing. Referring for example toFigure 4 I generally indicates an elective form of nozzle, with theenlarged lower portion I in which is pivoted any suitable rotary memherI having any suitable bristles or floor engaging means 1 whichpreferably project below the lower edge I of the portion I. I indicatesany suitable driving pulley mounted upon the rotary member and adaptedto receive any suitable driving belt I which is applicable to theremovable shaft extension D Note that the closure H may be employed withthe nozzle I and that it is so aligned with the removable shaftextension as to permit ready access to the shaft for insertion orremoval, or for the application of the belt I. Note also that the hoseconnection G may be applied with equal readiness to the nozzle E or tothe nozzle I. The adjustment above described permits the raising orlowering of the fan shaft to adjust either form of nozzle in any desiredrelationship to the surface to be worked upon. Y A

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to my specific showing.

In particular I may employ my invention either with a vacuum cleaner ofthe horizontal axis type, or of the vertical axis type.

In actual operation of the device it will be understood that a vacuumcleaner may be supplied having alternative nozzles. Each nozzle may besecured to the fan chamber,

as for example by the locking means shown in Figures 1 and 2, including'the wedging arm B, the pins B etc. The device can thus almostinstantaneously be converted from a simple suction device, as shown inFigure 1, to a beater brush type as shown in Figure 4. It will beunderstood that other types of nozzles may be supplied for a given set,nozzles varying in shape or in size. All of these nozzles are providedfor the ready insertion, without removal of the nozzle, of the suctionhose inlet as shown in Figure 5. This inlet member may be applied to thenozzle either when the nozzle is in place, or when it is removed, andfor quick substitution of nozzles it is not necessary to remove the hoseconnection, if it happens to be in the nozzle which is to be removed.Preferably the pulley D is removably mounted plied to the pulley Dthrough the aperture closed by the closure H.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner,a pump chamber, having integral front and rearwalls, the front wall of said chamber being formed with an air inletpassage therethrough, a nozzle and means for removably securing it inoperative relation with said air passage, said nozzle including an inletport'on adapted to be opposed to a surface beifi cleaned and aconnecting portion extending thence for operative connection with theair passage, said connecting portion having aligned openings receiving aconnecting inlet tube, one of said openings being in the line of flow ofair from the inlet portion to the air passage of the pump chamber,whereby a connection of the tube closes the opening to the inlet portionof the nozzle.

2. In a suction cleaner, a pump chamber, having integral front and rearwalls, the front wall of said chamber being formed with an air inletpassage therethrough and being beveled, a nozzle structure and means forremovably securing it in operative relation with said air passage, saidnozzle structure including an inlet portion adapted to be opposed to asurface being cleaned, an abutment member having a beveled portionadapted to engage and to conform to the beveled opening of said airpassage and a connecting portion extending between the inlet portion andthe abutment member, said connecting portion having aligned .openingsreceiving a connecting inlet tube,

said openings being generally aligned with the. said air inlet passage,one of said openings being in the line of flow of air from the inletportion of'the nozzle to the pump chamber, whereby a connection of thetube closes said opening to the inlet portion of the nozzle. v

3. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle for removable attachment to a fan housinghaving integral walls, one of which is provided with an inlet opening,an air inlet portion adapted to be opposed to. the surface being cleanedand a connecting portion, said connecting portion having alignedopenings therein, and a connecting inlet tube disposed in said openings,one of said openings being defined by an annular rib within theconnecting portion forming a bearing for one end of the connecting tube.

4. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle for removable attachment to a fan housinghaving integral walls, one of which is provided with an inlet opening,an air inlet portion adapt: ed to be opposed to the surface beingcleaned and a connecting portion, said connecting portion having alignedopenings therein, a connecting inlet tube disposed in said openings, oneof said openings being defined by an annular rib within the connectingportion forming a bearing for one end of the connecting tube, the otheropening being bounded by a cam surface, and means on the inlet tubeengageable with said surface to lock the tube to the nozzle.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 22nd dayof April WILLIAM J. CLEMENTS.

